Microsoft Bob was a product released by Microsoft in March 1995, designed to be a user friendly interface for Microsoft Windows version 3.1, replacing the Program Manager.
The software included home management programs such as a calendar and address book. It was not successful in the market, however, and indeed is often considered Microsoft's least successful product.
Despite its poor market showing, Bob's yellow smiley face logo became widely associated with the product and Microsoft in general.
Bob-like interactive assistants (similar to the later-generation Clippy or Clippit, the talking paperclip) led to Microsoft Agent, which later became embedded in a number of Microsoft products, including Office. Like Bob, however, these assistants are disliked by many users, and it is said that one of the most common questions Microsoft support is asked is how to turn them off. One of the key elements of Microsoft's advertising campaign for Office XP was the disabling of Clippy and the Office Assistant from the software, although it was still available if enabled.
Some designs of the cartoons were used in other Microsoft products:
- Bob's face was used in MSN Messenger under "Nerd Smiley"
- Will, the cartoon of William Shakespeare, and the red ball called "The Dot" can be found as Office Assistants
- The yellow dog "Rover" can be found in the search function of Windows XP
- Rover's animations (like typing on a computer) inspired the Office Assistant "Rex"
Microsoft Bob was a project managed by Melinda French, who later married Bill Gates.
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